TdF Stage 17 - Wednesday July 22 - 169 km - Bourg-Saint-Maurice → Le Grand-Bornand
 

http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2009/1700/CARTE.gif

http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2009/1700/PROFIL.gif

Welcome to the "Queen Stage"

too bad this isn't a radio free stage as well...maybe next year...

holy hell... looks like some good suffering

Cormet de Roselend (18 km at 6.1 percent), the Col des Saisies (15.1 km at 6 percent), the Côte d'Arâches (6.3 km at 7 percent), the Col de Romme (8.8 km at 8.9 percent) and the Col de la Colombière (7.5 km at 8.5 percent). (http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96t...tages/stage-19 )

http://www.cycling-challenge.com/images/CPL_ROMME.jpg
From: http://www.cycling-challenge.com/col...-the-hard-way/
Both the Romme and Colombiere. Combined 16 kilometers, almost 9%? Very difficult!

The stage profile looks very similar to this stage in 2004: http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/...stages/stage17
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/...esults/stage17 where Landis blew the field apart (only Basso, Ullrich, and Kloden could stay with him and Armstrong), and Armstrong caught Kloden at the last moment to take the stage win.

i can't wait to wake up at 5am, call in sick for the morning and watch this stage live.

Even AC is worried about this stage. There will be no forgiveness for having a bad day.

Saxo's got their work cut out for them if they are serious about making another go at AC.

Their ability to crack AC took a big blow when Jens went down today, IMO.

Agreed.....

My prediction PAIN!

Carlos goes of on a long solo. He has tried that before. Astana doesn't immediately chase him down. This looks like the kind of stage where he gives it a go. Will it work? I don't know because of my next thought.

Either Alberto or Andy crack tomorrow. If Saxo attacks like today, and if they can't crack Contador quickly I think he counters. He is itching to go.

Richard

:roflmao2:

hey i work for myself and there ain't no work so i think i'll call in sick too :D.

ed rader

I think Cadel will once again go on the attack.


Once again, we won't notice it. :lol:

Probably so. LOL. But if Cadel could sneak away with Pellizotti and Martinez he might have a chance of lasting until the last Col before he gets caught. Chances of that being allowed to happen are slim to none though.

Cadels updates show him pretty resigned, I wouldn't be surprised if he calls in sick soon.

+1

I was thinking the same thing... Sastre could pull it off, he has a diesel engine that's good for long climbs.

Does Carlos have the acceleration to get out on a breakaway on a climb, or would they even let him go? Don't think he's down enough minutes that they'd let him away.

I'm not sure either. But I do suspect it would be a great opportunity for the Schleck's to tag team with Carlos if there's no bad blood there.
If that were the case, then the top GC will be duking it out for sure.

The problem with trying to "out climb" a climber like AC, is like trying to out swim a dolphin. You may well drown yourself in the process.

AC is nowhere near cracking. He's looking cool as a cucumber.

Astana may give Sastre a short leash. The other GC hopefuls I don't know.

As far as Frank and Andy tagging along that won't be allowed.

Richard

short leash or not, gotta try something... drive the peloton, something..

Driving is suicide. He wont launch a vicious attack, but he will pull off Astana may let him go a little. Garmin, Saxo, and Liqui I don't know.

Richard

you underneath quotes always throw me off... lol.

I'm curious what some teams will try in desperation.... though my hopes are low that most teams have about given up.

I think you can expect the same from Saxo, but I think Astana will be more aggresive tomorrow. JB mentioned they want to put more time in on Wiggins. Final climb Contador attacks hard if things haven't blown up by then. I imagine groups all over the course tomorrow.

Richard